What is pathophysiology of Rh incompatibility?
Pathophysiology. When a Rh-negative mother is exposed to the Rh D antigen, the D antigen is perceived as a foreign threat similar to how bacteria and viruses are perceived. This leads to a series of activations of immunogenic pathways that culminates in the production of anti-D antibodies.
What does the rhesus antigen do?
Rh antigens, also called Rhesus antigens, are transmembrane proteins expressed at the surface of erythrocytes. They appear to be used for the transport of CO2 and/or ammonia across the plasma membrane. RBCs that are Rh positive express the one designated D (RhD antigen).
What causes Rhesus disease?
Rhesus disease is caused by a specific mix of blood types between a pregnant mother and her unborn baby. Rhesus disease can only occur in cases where all of the following happen: the mother has a rhesus negative (RhD negative) blood type. the baby has a rhesus positive (RhD positive) blood type.
How does rhesus incompatibility occur?
Rh incompatibility occurs when a woman who is Rh-negative becomes pregnant with a baby with Rh-positive blood. With Rh incompatibility, the woman’s immune system reacts and creates Rh antibodies. These antibodies help drive an immune system attack against the baby, which the mother’s body views as a foreign object.
What is rhesus conflict?
Rh incompatibility is a condition that develops when a pregnant woman has Rh-negative blood and the baby in her womb has Rh-positive blood.
What is rhesus Isoimmunization?
Isoimmunization (Sometimes called Rh sensitization, hemolytic disease of the fetus, Rh incompatibility) What is isoimmunization? A condition that happens when a pregnant woman’s blood protein is incompatible with the baby’s, causing her immune system to react and destroy the baby’s blood cells.
What does a rhesus D positive mean?
If you’re rhesus positive (RhD positive), it means that a protein (D antigen) is found on the surface of your red blood cells. Most people are RhD positive. If you’re rhesus negative (RhD negative), you do not have the D antigen on your blood cells.
Why is Rh factor important?
The rhesus factor is an important characteristic of blood cells. It indicates whether the blood of two different people is compatible when mixed – such as the blood of a mother and her baby at birth. If they have different blood group characteristics, it may cause problems.
Where does the name Rhesus D antigen come from?
In this condition it is the rhesus (Rh) antigen system on the red cell surface which is responsible for the reaction causing fetal–maternal incompatibility. The name has derived from a similar antigen recognized by the serum of rabbits immunized with rhesus monkey red cells.
Which is the most common antigen in Rh disease?
The term “Rhesus” was coined since it was first discovered in Rhesus monkeys. The Rh blood group system consists of multiple antigens (over 50), but D, C, c, E, and e are the most common antigens identified. D antigen is mainly responsible for Rh disease due to its high immunogenicity.
Why is the paternal antigen called the Rh blood group?
In error, the paternal antigen was named the Rhesus factor. By the time it was discovered that the mother’s antibodies were produced against a different antigen, the rhesus blood group terminology was being widely used. Therefore, instead of changing the name, it was abbreviated to the Rh blood group.
How is Rh status determined by the D antigen?
In the case of the D antigen, individuals who do not produce the D antigen will produce anti-D if they encounter the D antigen on transfused RBCs (causing a hemolytic transfusion reaction, HTR) or on fetal RBCs (causing HDN). For this reason, the Rh status is routinely determined in blood donors, transfusion recipients, and in mothers-to-be.